Portrait Of A First Lady

Liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, almost everyone agrees that Hillary Rodham Clinton is a remarkable woman, the backbone and moral anchor of her husband.

It is somewhat disappointing therefore to read a simplistic cardboard-cutout biography so flattering that it might have been written by the subject's mother.

What is Donnie Radcliffe, a Style reporter for The Washington Post, up to anyway? Groveling puff balls, a la Dan Rather, in hopes of future favored White House access?

Well, at least we can agree on this much: Born in Chicago in 1947, Hillary Rodham was always a well-rounded, bright student. Encouraged by loving, middle-class parents, she not only grew up self-confident, but, according to younger brother Tony, "When she wasn't studying, she was a lot of fun. But she was always studying."

At college, caught up in the "me-decade" student rebellions, Hillary helped bring Wellesley to its senses (knees?) by promoting liberalized dormitory rules (such as all-night male visitation rights), affirmative action admissions and getting rid of "irrelevant" traditional required courses. Ditto at Yale Law School, where, as a student activist, she personally arranged for continuous monitoring of the trial of Black Panther Bobby Seale and seven other codefendants being held in New Haven. (She drew the line, however, at book burning and, in fact, was part of the bucket brigade to douse the flames at the torched International Law Library.)

It was at Yale that she met you-know-who (her version here, not his), set up housekeeping with same and after a suitable period of Strum and Drang, married him and moved to Arkansas, where her legal background - child advocacy, Doar staffer (gathering evidence for a Nixon impeachment), retention of maiden name, and partnership in a prestigious Little Rock law firm - made her an admired, if sometimes controversial, governor's wife.

Did she inhale? (Doubtful.) Does she make chocolate chip cookies? (You bet.) Is she a nerd? (Naw.)

The point is that Hillary Clinton is such an extraordinarily accomplished woman she doesn't need a panegyric. And yet this selectively detailed book is not without values or general interest. Needless to say, there is no mention of the Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan or Whitewater Development Corp. or even old pal James McDougal. Another dear FOB (Friends of Both), Vincent Foster, rates only one passing reference. On the other hand, Chelsea's cat "Socks," is mentioned - although not the fact that he has been banished to the White House basement for up-chucking hair balls.

This portrait of Hillary-as-paragon will be unrecognized by White House insiders - not to mention those Arkansas state troopers leaking reports of Mrs. C. as a foul-mouth harridan who shouts obscenities, breaks china and hurls heavy objects at the president of the United States of America. (Well, we all have our bad days.)

The truth is probably somewhere between these two extremes. Sure our brainy First Lady has a temper, but she also displays a zestful good nature and a quick sense of humor. Good thing, too, because it looks as if, at least for the foreseeable future, she is going to need them both.